Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would now like to ask the chairperson for the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, which reviewed this bill, to make comments. Mr. Ramsay.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to the break we agreed we would be reviewing Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012, starting with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Mr. Miltenberger, do you have witnesses you’d like to bring into the Chamber?

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I think you answered it with your Chevette response, but I’ll go to the Minister again.

Does committee agree that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act, is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 9 as a whole approved for third reading

Sergeant-at-Arms, if I could please get you to escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

The next item on our agenda is Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act. Is committee agreed that we move on to Bill 9?

Is committee agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is all great. I have just one more suggestion to the Minister.

The upper gallery in the museum, there is a long walkway where they have held a number of shows. Just in the past week, I attended a photo show that was there. It is a prime location where a curated show could be facilitated. I was wondering if I could get the Minister to commit to having the museum actually do some research on what the criteria are for a candidate counsel for something to be considered a curated show so that we can take advantage of that long hallway, and maybe with very little expense...

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. I’m in no way knocking any of the things we’re doing, and I think this government is doing an awful lot with respect to arts.

During the Arts Week I had a number of artists in the Northwest Territories say how grateful they are for the increased level of support that we’re providing. But I’m talking about something specific here. I’m talking about a curated show. The advantage to that is that if we facilitate a curated show for our northern artists, then our northern artists have an opportunity to take advantage of programs that the Canada Council offers...

Currently the majority of NWT artists are unable to apply for support from Canada Council. One of the primary criteria for them is that an individual must have been involved in a curated show. By supporting curated shows here in the Northwest Territories, we are opening our local artists to significant opportunities on a national level through the Canada Council sponsored shows, training opportunities and international events. These, by default, increase the national and international awareness of the Northwest Territories, which is good for tourism. Support of our artists is a win-win...

For clarity, the answer is yes, we’re going to be bringing people from any community and every community in the Northwest Territories to Fort Smith and Hay River as the need exists and as programs are available. I think it’s a simple yes or no answer. These two facilities are going to be used for everywhere in the Northwest Territories. Is that right? Yes or no. No explanations. Yes or no works for me.